FCA, as a future for Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Lancia – Mondo Auto

What will become of us. This is how Gianluca Grignani sang in 2007. A question that perhaps many people will be asking about the FCA brands after the announcement of the merger with PSA. Under the magnifying glass there are in particular Alfa Romeo and Lancia but also Fiat could change a lot and end up in the vortex of a partnership that hides countless facets.

FCA, sales October 2019: bad for Fiat and Maserati

Said of the reduction of costs and synergies, important as ever to guarantee a future even to the most important automotive groups, the merger between FCA and PSA will also need to shed light on the future of the 14 brands that the Italian Americans and the French bring as a dowry. And so the mind immediately goes to Lancia, a sacrificial lamb from Fiat Chrysler which, however, is capable of remaining at the top of registrations with only one model in the range. In fact, Ypsilon was also confirmed in October as the second best-selling car in Italy, a position it maintains in the overall annual, behind another of the FCA group, Fiat Panda. Difficult to think that the ruthless CEO Carlos Tavares is ready to revitalize Lancia, given also the type of clientele that attracts and coverage of the segment, already crowded with numerous models of the future alliance.

Regarding Fiat, the current CEO of FCA, Mike Manley, made it clear just a few weeks ago that the objective of the Lingotto is to reposition the brand, aiming at the B segment and definitively abandoning the expensive city cars. Translated in simple terms, goodbye to 500, which could remain alive in the electric version only (on the road since 2020) and retirement also for Panda, which in any case remains a best seller and will in some way be replaced. At this point, the positive aspect of the synergy with PSA and the need to aim higher, could push Fiat to revitalize Punto, a model of great appeal that would return thanks to the modular platform used by Peugeot and Opel for 208 and Corsa, also available in its ECMP variant and therefore ready to accommodate a vehicle with hybrid or full electric technology and with a technology content much higher than current models of the brand. Healthy 500 with a combustion engine, it would probably like to say goodbye also to Abarth, which this year celebrated 70 years: Scorpio is a niche brand, fascinating and of great tradition which, however, does not reflect the standards of the future CEO Tavares, namely say, large sales volumes. For the experiments, there is already DS that a future so certain does not even have it.

Fiat Punto, the rebirth thanks to the FCA-PSA merger

Finally Alfa Romeo. The Giorgio platform is not suitable for hybrid or electric engines, except for light hybrids and despite its versatility in terms of driving dynamics, it is easy to think that it will soon be abandoned. The Biscione has revised its industrial plan, canceling the 8C and the GTV and announcing two SUVs, the Tonale plug-in hybrid which could use a compact platform similar to that of the Jeep Compass (which will soon have its PHEV version) and a small full-size electric vehicle, which could use a platform shared with PSA. The restyling of Stelvio and Giulia is also expected.